Movies featuring black superheroes are about as rare as movies featuring female superheroes, so for obvious reasons, a movie featuring the Marvel superhero The Black Panther is an idea that’s highly appealing. Borrowing from pulp comics like The Phantom, The Black Panther first appeared in Fantastic Four #52 as a potential antagonist, but was later given an almost Shakespearean background of destiny, duty and tragedy.
Part of a long line of Black Panthers, a sacred mantle worn by the ruler of the fictional African country Wakanda, King T’Challa balances the internal tribal strife of his kingdom, while protecting its vast wealth of the mineral vibranium (the same stuff Captain America’s shield is made out of) from outsiders looking to exploit it.
Black Panther has a rich history in the Marvel Universe having been part of The Avengers, a sub in the Fantastic Four, and once being married to the X-Men’s Storm, he’s also been featured in numerous animated series, video games and was the subject of his own feature length animated movie released direct to DVD. So what’s stopping the Panther from making a big screen bow? Once again, Kevin Feige promises they’re getting to it…
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